Good Morning,
Well, I am feeling fabulous this morning! After I came back from Darley yesterday, I relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the day in my regular routine with my friends. We had a great time ‘visiting’ and “just doing girl talk!” It was also a day when one reflects on one’s family. I have this great photo of Mario I wanted to share with YOU. When he came to visit me last time, Mario also spent some fun time visiting other farms. He really wanted to meet MY MOM, VERTIGINEUX. We were able to make this happen for him.
During his visit with Vertigineux, he spent a great deal of time just laughing and smiling! I guess it is because she is “MY MOM”! Mario commented that we have some very similar physical qualities. She is also a good-sized MARE with a PRETTY FACE and GREAT eyes! And look at those adorable EARS! I really believe all of my friends at BARN 55 would know them ANYWHERE! (I think my whole family has a ‘thing’ for fabulous EARS!) Very, very cute!
As for my personal ‘baby’ status, many of you asked several questions about what happens next. Well, with horses, the vets will scan me at approximately 16 days to see if “I look to be in foal”. This is considered to be the ‘early pregnancy scan’. If all looks to be in good order…they will rescan me about 12-14 days later. The primary goal of these early check-ups/scans is always to monitor the “IN FOAL STATUS.” The third pregnancy scan is done 42-45 days from the breeding date. This one is especially important. At this stage, it is really a good sign when all is A-OK with the pregnancy. So, I’ll update you as we go along…but the 42-45 day report is very, very important!
Like I said yesterday…HOOVES CROSSED.
All of my CA FRIENDS and BARN 55 are very excited! Dottie was teasing them….THINK “BLUE” or THINK “PINK.” The anticipation is so much fun! Also, I did want to tell you that I so appreciate ALL of the KIND WORDS, CONCERN, and THOUGHTS you shared with ME on my Web-site and Facebook Page. You are all such loving and caring friends! I hope the next year is a GREAT EXPERIENCE for all of us! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!
I will keep you posted!
With love,
HUGS TO ALL~
Z
Kadi Ferrell
Hey! Does you’re Momma Dance too?! :D I <333 you! :D :)
Patricia
@ Robbie…I would certainly be willing to donate some $ to get Mario a plane ticket to see Zen…please let us know how we would be able to do this…maybe just send the $ to Hollywood Park to his attention…once he collects enough $, then he can purchase the ticket himself.
Just an idea? Anyone else have any other thoughts?
He definitely has a special love for Zen and how great for her spirit to see him while she is in foal!
Keep us posted!
Abby
I hope Lane’s End will allow fans to come see you! I love you very much Z and I hope you have a very healthy baby and pregnancy!!!
Jean Moore
Beautiful Zenyatta, How dear of you to introduce your mother, Vertigineux to us, you’re just a proper lady through and through. And yes, she is so pretty like you and may I say Street Cry is not far behind in looks and you have his dapples. Months ago I researched your pedigree and saw a striking resemblence in your great grandfather, Roberto. No wonder you are perfection with all these great genes stirring about. I am so grateful to Dottie and you for allowing us this privilege of sharing your life, Mr. & Mrs. Moss certainly earned their owner’s of the year award and I send much gratitude to them as well. My prayers are that you remain healthy, safe and happy. Much Love to You and Your Family
Grandma Bea, Ladee, Remington & Bashful Gobee
how long does a mare carry the foal? humans carry 9 months, elephants carry 2 years, i am not sure about a horse. Congrats Zenyatta, you will (or do already) GLOW! Being pregnant was the best time of my life! Hugs from Grandma Bea & my 3 kitties.
LauraJ
@Grandma Bea, 11 months on average, although there is a fairly wide spread. Some mares will foal at 10-1/2 months and others will go a year.
Jan
Many of us would like to see you. Since this involves air travel, how do we set this up, so when we get there we are not disappointed. So want to get a glimpse of you. Zenyatta, please give us instructions. Thank you
Valeria P. Cannon
@Diana, there’s a video of Rags to Riches and her filly titled Rags to Riches and Curlin’s first fillies on you tube. Sorry that I don’t know how to embed a link here for you.
Valeria
sg
Thank you Dottie for sharing this photo. When you look at V & Z you know that nature hit the mother lode. I pray their beauty, intelligence and athleticism continues for many generations.
Lauren
@Robbie – i think that is a great idea for the donations to send Mario to see Zenyatta. I truly believe that the two of them have a very special bond.
@Dani – thank you for the link to the beautiful pictures of Zenyatta.
I think that all of us here who read her daily posts truly love her immensely, so let’s all hope for a very safe and healty foal this time next year. I honestly believe that this is going to be the most long awaited birth — and the foal is going to have very many loving and caring “aunts and uncles”.
sg
@Valerie P. Cannon:
Is this the link you’re referring to on youtube? Thank you for pointing out to us. Pretty filly indeed! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NieWFBIuH_U&feature=related
ENSIGN
Hi Valeria,
The video you mention above shows many of the same photos from the Blood Horse link. There is a photo of a chestnut mare and foal cantering in their paddock at about 1:16 but I’m sorry to say that it’s not a photo of Rags & her filly.
I’m sure there may be a few photos out there of her with her foal, I just haven’t seen one officially published.
Allen
Great idea Robbie, count me in.
Sandy
@Dani – Thanks SO much for the reminder about where I saw the picture. I was pretty sure it was a Barbara Livingston shot, but just couldn’t track how I had seen it the first time. There are many great pictures in that piece, but the one with Mario is just so special! Thanks again, Sandy from Ohio
signofthetimes
@Valeria
If you google Rags to Riches there is a very sweet cuty video of her first foal;
galloping and playing in the pasture; she is not in it however, maybe because of
the nurse issue. This foal looks soooo very much like her.
luvhorses
@T Parker
Fruads are not welcome on this site and
Ensign is one; Please see comment to
Sharon In Seattle
Do you see the very professional talented throughbred business man David
Ingordo commenting like comments have
been made on this site by Ensign? No.
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
Dear BARBARA WOOD: Thank you for bringing up the question of how to collect donations for Mario Espinoza (and possibly Carmen Zamora, as Tristesse suggested, if funds allowed) to visit Zenyatta at Lane’s End (when it would be safe to do so, seeing as she likely is gestating a little one).
In my post, I asked Dottie and Zenyatta and the rest of Team Z if we could have permission to facilitate a visit for Mario.
I imagine that they will respond one way or the other. I also thought they would come up with an idea about how to collect our checks. I think it would be out of place for one of us to take up the collection.
Signofthetimes thought it would make sense to send checks to Barn 55 care of someone who works there other than Dottie who as barn manager must be terribly busy. Signofthetimes also suggested that someone at the Zenyatta Lounge could collect the donations. Patricia suggested that we simply send donations to Mario himself at Hollywood Park.
To all the FAN FRIENDS who indicated interest: I hope that we can bring Mario (and his wife Carmen) to visit Zenyatta. As Karen Mitchell said, and as I too feel, our gift would be a way of showing how much we respect the bond between Mario and Zenyatta and how much he (who spent 12 hours with her every day, or so I heard) contributed to her trust and interest in humans, and to her “personality, and kind, gentle temperament.”
All the best–Robbie
NancyP
Hello Beautiful Girl,
I just loved the picture of your beautiful Mom with Mario! He is so happy to meet her. Yes, you really do resemble her, the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree, so to speak. If they painted a blaze on her you would be twins. She has the same kind face and look in her eyes as you do. Yes, you both have beautiful expressive ears.
Thank you for explaining how your pregnancy will checked and monitored in the early stages. Hopefully everything goes smoothly and perfectly. Even though I don’t post every day, I think about you each day.
Stay well my beautiful girl. Also, thank Sarah for all of the pictures she has been taking, so they can be posted here. It is very much appreciated.
Lots of Hugs,
NancyP
Mary McQuire
I come to this website for joy. Zenyatta always provides it!
Sunny Boyd
Good morning Zenyatta,
I forgot to offer congrats on your guardians/owners’ the Moss’ on their 3rd yr in a row best owners award.
Judging from an earlier video, you are connecting nicely with your new barn family, you’re smootching/nibbling the heck outta those guys. :) :) :)
Don’t they have cars in CA, what about Carmen, and the kids, I’m sure they’d all like to see Zenyatta, too. It would make a nice summer vacation, on the road to Kentucky. In any case, I feel this is interfering in other people’s affairs, if Mario & his family wanted to come, I’m sure the Shirreffs would assist but only if needed. I’m sure Mario and his family are proud, and don’t need any handouts.
They’re working people, they know how to make money.
Have a great day, Zetty, with all your paddock pals :) :) :) <3 wheehee
Cindy
TO EVERYONE ON THIS SITE:
Most of you are already doing this, but to those who want to respond to Luvhorses – PLEASE IGNORE THE POSTS. If you give them nothing to ping back, the game will be over, and we won’t be bothered with their ridiculous comments.
I know – it’s hard to do. I want to slap them down too! I wish there was a monitor on this site to keep people like that from posting. They are obviously trying to fuel fights. DON’T RESPOND!
Thanks everyone!
L
@Sunny Boyd,
This is sort of how I feel. While it’s a wonderful thought and very generous, we’ve never been given any indication that Mario can’t make it to KY to see Zenyatta whenever he might wish.
Some things to keep in mind, Zenyatta is now under the care of LEF and they might have some say in when she should receive visits. Also Mario is a very capable groom and the Santa Anita backside of hopping right now, he might not have the availability to just drop work and fly out to see Zenyatta.
The backside is very much a pay for play situation, meaning if he’s not there to be working on horses, he’s not getting paid. I’m sure he’s secure with Sheriff’s outfit but please understand the backside can be very cut throat, just like for a jockey. If you’re not there to rub/groom your horses, someone else WILL be doing the work and you can loose your horses that way.
There is no doubt that Mario loves Zenyatta and loved working with her but he’s a professional. I agree with Sunny, if he shows a desire to see her and needs assistance, I suspect the Mosses and/or John will see that he gets a visit but maybe we should leave that as a private affair amongst Team Z?
Helen
Good morning Zenyatta. I too also agree that your Dam and you look quite a bit alike. Mario’s smile warms my heart and was so glad he got to meet her. You are very lucky to have had Mario as your groom as I do believe he loves you so much. I also think you look some like your sire.
I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that your mating took with Bernie! I personally am thinking blue.
Love ya big girl!
Celeste
Thank you for sharing another wonderful diary post with beautiful photography. I love the picture of Mario and Vertigineau (?) I have no idea if I spelled that right or not, but I do think it is a lovely name but I am not fond of when I have vertigo – lol! I am forever grateful for the time and effort it takes for Dottie and the team at Lane’s End to create this wonderful diary for the fans of our Queen. Thank you once again.
Sunny Boyd
@ L
Damn straight, I agree with everything you say.
From what I’ve been reading about TEAM Z they’re a swell bunch, and Mario & his family are part of that, and he and his family are not on welfare, they haul butt for a livin’, Zenyatta has moved on, she has a new team now, and seems to be doing very well, she’ll never forget TEAM Z, they’ll always be in her heart, come January, mark my word, they’ll all welcome Zetty’s little filly in Kentucky. I, too, think it’s going to be a girl :) :) :).
BTW it seems, your website is becoming the info hub for other websites, how’d you like them dapples, huh, Zetty?
check out: http://www.drf.com/news/zenyatta-bred-bernadini
Cathy P
Good morning Zenny, we will keep our fingers crossed for you. I know everything will go well for you, I just know it. Stay healthy big girl. And THANK YOU for keeping us all up to date. With lots of LOVE AND BIG HUGS!!!
Sharon Call
@Cindy. I totally and completely agree with you. I, too, want to respond and “slap them down”, but have been fighting the urge. The recipient of these unwelcomed, meaningless and hateful attempts to fuel a fight seems to be doing a really great job of handling it themselves, so I just get up from the computer, take a deep breath and forget about it. Thanks for saying this much better than I could have.
L
It would have been interesting to see just one full sibling to Zenyatta, just to see if lightening struck twice.
Shame that V won’t visit Darley again, especially since the 2 year old Bernardini filly is so nice as well.
Christine
Zen,
I was so down today I went to your pictures and looked in your eyes. It lifted my soul. Thank you dear creation.
I only pray from now on the posts are positive and in your words dear Zen. They help so very much.
If I need details about things I will go get a book and read.
Till then waiting to hear from you. Any news from you is good news. Love you Zenyatta.
livey
@Christine—Z lifts my heart too. However, just wanted to clarify that a vast majority of post are positive. Also, diary entries are from Z and “post” are from others commenting on diary entries. This is typical of all blogs. With that, there will be entries that other posters will not be interested in AND at times, post will go off topic..this is very common with popular blogs. Please keep that in mind. As others have mentioned on this blog previously, that is what is good about this site, it has brought ALL types of people together with various questions, knowledge and interest.
That is all.